Kigali to host emotional drama, ‘The Monument’

Colleen Wagner’s “The Monument”, an electrifying and emotional drama will be performed in Kigali next week.Preparations for the three-day performance, to be held from October 8-10 at Heaven Restaurant in Kiyovu are in full gear, with actors rehearsing day and night to stage an outstanding performance. The show is free to the public and it will be starting at 8:30 pm. The drama is directed by Canadian theatre director Jennifer H.Capraru and will be presented by Isôko theatre Rwanda. Capraru, who is also the founder of Isôko, said that “The Monument” features local actors Jaqueline Umubyeyi, Jean Paul Uwayezu, Ruth Nirere, Sonia Bonna Uwineza and Solange Liza Umuhire. “The Monument” is a story about war and ethnic feuds. Originally written in English, the play has been translated to Kinyarwanda.In this touching drama, a widow is searching for the man who raped and murdered her daughter and 22 other women. Her quest leads to painful confrontations with the ghosts of the past.“Wagner’s play is a brilliantly written poetic torpedo aimed directly at the heart of evil, and dissects the nature of forgiveness,” Capraru talks about the play. “The Monument” premiered in Rwanda and in some other African countries in 2008. Since then, it has toured the world with performances in Canada, while others will be held this month in Poland at the International Dialogue Festival. The play has been translated into seven languages and won Canada’s Governor General’s Award for Drama.Capraru says the 80-minute piece raises issues of reconciliation and dialogue among communities.The award-winning play revolves around a killer who is about to be executed but at the last minute is released by a woman survivor. The woman convinces the man to reveal where he buried the bodies of the 23 women he killed. “After the play is finished, a space of dialogue appears in our talk-backs, then among the audience, and they may continue to reflect upon it for days or weeks, alone or with family, colleagues and friends,” Capraru explains. “This can sow seeds for critical thinking, which is what is needed in terms of building lasting civil society, respect for human rights, and sustainable peace worldwide,” she concludes.Littoral screeningMeanwhile, a first screening of “Littoral”, another emotive play, is scheduled for this weekend.“Littoral”, by Wajdi Mouawad is a story of war, exile and self-discovery and follows a young man’s journey to bury his father in his native land. Also presented by Isôko theatre Rwanda, the comedy premiered in Rwanda and Africa in 2010. Littoral is an award-winning play, among them Canada’s General Award and Prix Molière.The first edited DVD of the award winning comedy, presented both in French, Kinyarwanda and English to make the choice to respect linguistic tradition of the country, is to be screened this Sunday at 6.30 pm at the Goethe-Institut in Kigali.

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Kigali to host emotional drama, ‘The Monument’